Teresa "TJ" Barnes, RN
CEO/President
Short Bio November 2022
Teresa “TJ” Barnes, RN
Hearing Loss Equality and Inclusion Advocate
Teresa is the founder of HearCommunications, Inc, an educational organization that offers products to increase hearing awareness, keynote speaking, consulting, online courses, Barnes Communications Strategies, and Hearing Friendly Training and Certification to help communities connect with the hearing loss communities, which account for 20% of the American population and a missed trillion dollar market niche with ADA communication disabilities rights.
“TJ” is her deaf sign name has more than 20 years of expertise in health care and business as a Registered Nurse and former emergency department manager. She, too, has suffered hearing loss, since birth and is familiar with the difficulties that this illness poses personally and professionally. And, wants to help people and the businesses that serve them.
She believes in creating lemonade out of lemons, and after a near-fatal accident due to a lack of hearing from behind, she embarked on a quest to educate society about hearing loss. When she uncovered a huge market with unmet needs, she was shocked. She created the Hearing Friendly Symbol to help people recognize hearing loss for inclusiveness, safety, and accessibility. On Telluride Mountain, where she won the Far West Skiers Association Safety Person of the Year, she is shown with her first beta tester. The Hearing Friendly Symbol has become a magnet for businesses who promote equality and inclusion for people with communication disabilities.
Ms. Barnes has a BA in Communications from the University of California, San Diego, and is a California Board Certified Registered Nurse.
She is a member of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, California Restaurant Association, American Nursing Association, and Hearing Loss Association of America, as well as a past board member of the International Association for Women. Sound Advice: Tune Into Listening is her first book, which is available on Amazon. Hearing Friendly Business Podcast Host seems to be some sound advice.
